The Aduana rules have changed. We maintain this post, because it has useful comments listed below.

Dec. 5, 2013: SAT/Aduana has issued new Duty Free limits for people entering Mexico by air and by land. The new year round limits are $500 US dollars per person entering Mexico by air, and $300 US dollars per person by land. As before, personal items (clothing etc) are exempted from the $300/$500 limits.

Hi Pat,
The Mexican Customs (Aduana) can confiscate the almonds, especially if the almonds are not in their original sealed commercial packaging. The Mexican rules are the same as USA and Canada – no foods.

Hi Steve,
I was wondering if I could bring a silver bowl into Mexico. It probably does not exceed $5,000. The issue with it is that it’s brand new, I was wondering if it could be considered a monetary instrument, in which case the limit is $10,000.

Hi Marissa,
No “might need to declare it”, but instead, a definite yes that you need to declare it.

As reported in the article above: You are allowed only $300 per person of non-personal goods when driving into Mexico, and only $500 per person of non-personal goods when flying into Mexico. You really would not want Aduana to confiscate your pretty bowl, because you chose not to follow the law. Declare it.. Pay any duties they decide you owe. They may just wave you through, but I’d have a receipt with me to prove the actual value, in case Aduana put an artificially high valuation on it.
Happy Trails,
steve

Hello, I am travelling from US to Mexico for vacation and are planning to bring 2 bottles of wine packed in my suitcase. Do I need to bring a receipt for them? Do I have to declare them at customs? Thank you!

Hello. We are traveling from JFK to Cancun. How many bottles of alcohol AND how many bottles of wine can we purchase at the Duty Free Shop in the airport and bring into Cancun? Also, champagne is considered wine, correct?

Hi Steve, last time I came into Mexico (Sept 2014) the Houston Duty Free store said Mexico had changed the alcohol and smokes amount and only 10 packs (one carton) and 1.14L of spirits was max. Can you verify, also is “port” considered wine or a spirit? Would love to bring in 6L! Thanks!

Hi Liz,
Aduana’s Spanish legalese is different from US/British legalese: The “hasta tres litros de bebidas alcohólicas y seis litros de vino” means you are allowed to bring the maximum amounts of one or the other, not both.
steve